In our country, television is losing a benchmark for Olympic broadcasts as Manolo Romero Canela passed away last Saturday at the age of 81 after a lengthy battle with cancer, a news detail confirmed by the Television Academy. His farewell marks the end of an era, but his influence remains deeply embedded in how Olympic moments are shared with audiences around the world. His career, spanning more than five decades, stands as a testament to consistency, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to bringing top-tier sports coverage to viewers. [Source: Television Academy]
Romero was widely regarded as one of the leading figures in television production and the orchestration of major international sports events. His professional journey, which began in the mid-1960s, evolved into a lifelong dedication to broadcasting excellence. Since the Mexico City Games in 1968, he actively participated in the telecasts of the Olympic Games and contributed to numerous world championships across a broad spectrum of sports, continually pushing the boundaries of live sports presentation and storytelling. [Source: Television Academy]
Born in Seville, he started his professional path as a Manager at TVE in 1965. By 1982 he led the World Cup Operations Group, and soon after he assumed the role of ABC International Operations Manager for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. His work earned him an Emmy for the best sports telecast during the 1984 Games, a recognition that resonated throughout his career. Over the years he amassed multiple honors in Spain, including Ondas, the Golden Ring Award, IOC recognition, and several Sportel and Emmy awards, underscoring his sustained impact on the field. [Source: Television Academy]
Romero also served in pivotal leadership roles such as President of International Sports Broadcasting (IBS) and Managing Director of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS). In these capacities, he helped shape the role of host broadcasting for multiple Olympic cycles, including events in Salt Lake City, Athens, and Turin, and he contributed to the IOC’s efforts that enabled Beijing, Vancouver, and London to reach a global audience with high-quality Olympic coverage. [Source: Television Academy]
Earlier in his career, he held the position of Managing Director for the Sydney Olympia Broadcasting Corporation (SOBO) during the Sydney Games, and he was Executive Director of the Atlanta Olympic Games Committee (ACOG) in 1996. He also founded the Olympic Radio and Television Organization (RTO) and played an integral part in laying the groundwork for how Olympic signals are produced and distributed to viewers worldwide. His leadership helped integrate European expertise into the Olympic broadcasting ecosystem, a cross-border collaboration that strengthened the sport’s broadcast value. [Source: Television Academy]
These roles at the global audiovisual companies responsible for broadcasting the Olympic signal worldwide positioned him as a pioneering European figure in Olympism. A recent Television Academy tribute highlighted his lifelong dedication, noting how his work and approach left an indelible imprint on Madrid, Spain, and the broader Olympic television landscape. The tribute emphasized the lasting legacy he created, a legacy that continues to inform every Olympic cycle, winter and summer alike, and a reminder that great broadcasts are built on vision, teamwork, and relentless pursuit of excellence. [Source: Television Academy]